Stoma seal adhesive

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What is claimed is: 1.
A pressure-sensitive adhesive composition having a Williams Plasticity Number of from about 2 mm to 4 mm and the capacity to absorb at least about 7 percent of its own weight in water comprising: (a) from about 30 to about 80 parts by weight of a pressure-sensitive adhesive component selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, silicone rubber, acrylonitrile rubber, polyurethane rubber, polyisobutylene, acrylic polymers and mixtures thereof, (b) from about 30 to about 80 parts by weight of a moisture absorbing component selected from the group consisting of karaya gum, locust bean gum, sodium acrylate polymers, polyvinylalcohol, powdered pectin, gelatin, carboxymethylcellulose, high molecular weight polyethylene glycol, and mixtures thereof; and (c) from about 2 percent to about 20 percent by weight based on the total weight of said adhesive composition of silica.
2.
The composition of claim 1 wherein the silica is present in an amount of from about 4 percent to about 12 percent by weight.
3.
The composition of claim 1 wherein the adhesive component is selected from polyisobutylene and acrylic polymers.
4.
The composition of claim 1 wherein the moisture absorbing component is selected from carboxymethylecellulose, karaya gum, pectin and gelatin.
5.
The composition of claim 1 which comprises from about 0 to about 60 parts by weight of each of said adhesive component and said moisture absorbing component.
6.
The composition of claim 5 wherein the adhesive component is polyisobutylene and the moisture absorbing component comprises carboxymethylcellulose and karaya gum.
7.
The composition of claim 5 wherein the adhesive component is a blend of polyisobutylene and an acrylate copolymer and the moisture absorbing component comprises carboxymethylcellulose, gelatin and pectin.
8.
The composition of claim 6 further comprising polybutene.
9.
The composition of claim 1 having the capacity to absorb at least about 15 percent of its own weight in water